From the very first lines the prophecy can shock us; indeed, it hardly fits into consciousness. We are told that because of the sins of a handful of people, everything that exists will be subjected to total destruction. And if during the Flood at least the fish could survive, now...
From the very first lines the prophecy can shock us; indeed, it hardly fits into consciousness. We are told that because of the sins of a handful of people, everything that exists will be subjected to total destruction. And if during the Flood at least the fish could survive, now even they will have to pay for human deeds. What does this mean, and why should anyone at all have to suffer for another's guilt, especially speechless creatures who have no part at all in what people have done?
This means that the norms of spiritual life are not toys. We are not surprised by strict rules for handling poisonous and radioactive substances, or by the fact that one must not touch a bare wire with bare hands. The sad consequences of violating safety rules do not seem unexpected to us; yet for some reason ignorant and irresponsible behavior in the face of the spiritual world is considered quite acceptable.
And yet the Lord Himself has warned us about this more than once, and the words about the threat of deserved destruction are not an act of arbitrary will, but another reminder, though expressed with deliberate sharpness because ordinary warnings so often go in one ear and out the other: "Come to your senses; you are destroying not only yourselves, but the whole world!"
The prophecy calls the day of the destruction of a world sunk in wickedness the day of wrath. Elsewhere in Scripture the Lord says that there is no wrath in Him, and we know many testimonies to His mercy toward us; but we do not understand well the scale of His mercy if we cannot imagine from what catastrophes, provoked by us, He has been protecting us until now...
1 The title of the book, Zep 1:1.
The destruction of Judah foretold, Zep 1:2-4.
A charge against them for their sins, Zep 1:5-9.
A description of the day of the Lord, Zep 1:10-18.
1:1 Zephaniah - He is thought to have been the great - grandson of king Hezekiah. In the days of Josiah - So he was cotemporary with Jeremiah and Ezekiel, and foretells what Jeremiah and Ezekiel did.
1:4 The remnant - Whatsoever remains of the idolatry of Baal.This place - Jerusalem. The name - Both the persons, and the memory of them. The Chemarims - Either called so from their black garments they went in, or, from their swarthy colour occasioned by the black smoak of incense: they were door - keepers, and sextons of Baal.The priests - The priests of Baal.
1:5 House - tops - On the flat roofs of their houses.And that swear - That mixt idol - worship, and the worship of the true God; that devote themselves to God, and Baal, or Malchim, that is, Moloch.
1:7 Hold thy peace - Thou that murmurest against God, stand in awe.The day - A day of vengeance from the Lord. A sacrifice - The wicked Jews, whom he will sacrifice by the sword. His guests - summoned the beasts of the field, and the fowls of the air, to eat the flesh, and drink the blood.
1:8 The princes - The great ones, who dreamed of shifting better than others, but fell with the first, Ki2 25:19-21. Children - Sons and grand - children, Josiah: Jehoahaz died a captive in Egypt, Ki2 23:34, Jehoakim died in Babylon, and was buried with the burial of an ass, Jer 22:18-19, Jeconiah died a captive: and Zedekiah and his children, fared still worse. Strange apparel - The garb of foreigners, imitated by the wanton Jews.
1:9 In the same day - At the same time.Their masters houses - Either the oppressing kings, whose officers these were, or publick officers and judges, whose servants thus spoiled the poor.Violence - Goods taken by force, by false accusations, or by suborned evidence.
1:10 The noise - The great out - cry and lamentation.The fish gate - At which gate the Babylonians first entered into the city. The second - This gate was in the second wall of Jerusalem, which on that side was fortified with three walls. Crashing - Of things broken into shivers; possibly the noise of doors, windows, closets, and chests broken up. The hills - On which the city stood.
1:11 Howl - Cry aloud, and bitterly. Maktesh - The lower town.Merchant people - Who were wont to lodge in this place.That bear silver - That brought it with them to pay for what they bought.
1:12 I will search - God speaks after the manner of men, who searches dark places with candles. He will fully discover and punish.Their lees - In allusion to liquors, which not being poured out from vessel to vessel to refine them, grow thick and foul.
1:14 The voice if the day - The day which will come with a great noise.
1:15 A day - Of unparalleled calamities.
1:17 Like blind men - Not knowing where to go.As dust - As abundantly, and as carelessly as dust in the highway.
1:18 In the land - Therefore let not sinners be laid asleep by the patience of God; for when the measure of their iniquity is full, his justice will both overtake and overcome them, will make quick and thorough work.